Veterinarian suicide rates higher than most

For veterinarians, it’s not all cute puppies and kittens. There’s a tragic statistic that’s affecting the profession.

Several studies have found that veterinarians have higher rates of suicide than the general population, as well as higher rates than people in other health care professions.

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control surveyed 10,000 veterinarians. It found that more than one in six Americans in the profession had considered suicide.

Dr. Kevin Long, a veterinarian at the Arc Animal Clinic, said he’s not surprised by the alarming statistics.

“You go through all those emotions, so I can see how somebody could potentially be stressed enough and be fatigued enough that they would do something drastic,” Long said Thursday.

The study also found that veterinarians suffer from feelings of hopelessness, depression and other psychiatric disorders two to three times more than the general population.

“Veterinarians as a rule are perfectionist, and we hate to lose. So when we lose a patient, it can add to stress in our lives,” Long said.

Veterinarians see death more than most people, so they’re also dealing with something called “compassion fatigue.”

“There’s a couple times early in my career that I felt burnout, that I felt like I was ready to leave and find a new job,” Long said.

They also have to deal with emotional pet owners.

“Clients making us feel, ‘You went to vet school to help animals, why can’t you help me? ‘You only want money, you don’t want to help my pet,'” Long said.

But it can be tough to ask for help, explained Terry Schroeder, an independent contractor on Deschutes County’s Mental Health Crisis Team.

“One change in perspective is really seeing that seeking help and getting the extra things that you need so you can do the best job, is really a strength and not a weakness,” Schroeder said.

It’s also tough to provide help to people who are struggling.

“The best thing you can do is ask the question, ‘Are you suicidal?’ It won’t make the person more suicidal if you do ask that question,” Schroeder said.

Suicide prevention experts would like to see the stigma around mental health change so more people feel comfortable asking for help.

At Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, suicide prevention among veterinarians is frequently discussed. On Friday, training is being held to teach how suicide impacts people within the veterinary medicine profession.